A Kunkletown man appeared in Carbon County court on Monday to enter a guilty plea to counts of terroristic threats and simple assault but the plea almost didn’t come off.

Shane Tyler Horton, 23, was to plead to the threats count before Judge Steven R. Serfass for an incident on Nov. 11, 2020, at a residence in Bear Creek, Penn Forest Township.

Assistant District Attorney Robert S. Frycklund read the facts of the case in which state police at Fern Ridge said they responded to a report of a kidnapping and assault.

The troopers said a gun was pointed at the victim, and threats were made that he would be shot and killed and also that he was going to be raped.

When Serfass asked Horton if the facts were correct, he said no. He claimed there was no firearm involved and no threats of killing the victim or raping him.

Serfass said because of Horton’s denial of the facts as read, he could not accept a guilty plea from the defendant.

After some discussion, Horton admitted making threats to the victim, which the commonwealth accepted to substantiate the terroristic threats charge.

The simple assault charge stemmed from the same incident in which the commonwealth claimed the defendant struck the victim multiple times.

Again, Horton denied striking anyone, saying he only told the victim he would “kick his a--”. After further discussion, Horton admitted to the facts as stated.

Horton is one of three charged in connection with the incident.

Horton also admitted to mental health issues and is currently receiving counseling/treatment while an inmate in the county prison. He has been in the prison since the day of the incident.

On the threats charge, Serfass sentenced him to serve one to one day less 24 months in prison with credit for 461 days already served and paroled him.

On the assault count he was placed on probation for 18 months, consecutive to the threats charge.

He was also ordered to supply a DNA sample, render a total of 175 hours of community service, get a mental health evaluation, have no contact with the victims, pay court costs of over $1,000 and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on parole and probation.